To start with, I ought to notice that this movie is a continuation of the Haikyu!! anime and a canon adaptation of the manga. So should you’re not conscious of the anime or no less than typically conscious of it franchise and the characters, the occasions of the movie, and the emotional character beats most likely will not resonate with you. It may also be useful to brush up on the collection earlier than watching, for the reason that film does not have any “story to this point” segments, and it has been about three and a half years for the reason that final season of the anime.
You probably have a Haikyu!! fanatic, or should you can overcome this background data hurdle, you are in for a reasonably enjoyable time and get a number of the finest montages from any anime in current reminiscence. The movie expertly makes use of arduous cuts to convey the velocity and impression of spikes and the way even one of the best gamers on the sector battle to return a robust shot. This offers segments masking longer rallies a rising sense of dread and desperation, because the digicam frequently switches between a assured return and an more and more drained participant barely managing to maintain the fast-moving ball aloft.
One of many movie’s ultimate sections particularly is a masterfully produced POV sequence that pulls the viewers right into a protagonist’s perspective, preceded by an impressed audio overlay of their gasping breaths. After watching this character plan, adaptation, and battle through the match that makes up the vast majority of this movie, it’s influential to be positioned of their footwear through the eleventh hour of the sport. This assessment will keep away from main spoilers, but it surely’s secure to say that should you’re additionally somebody who loves sports activities and the way in which they present one of the best, most human components of those that take part in them, you may get loads out of it . HAIKYU!! The dumpster battle.
That stated, the precise plot of this movie leaves slightly to be desired, and the themes have aged unusually since then Haruichi Furudate first wrote it in 2010. Whereas supporting characters are given loads of time to shine, Shoyo Hinata and Kenma Kozume’s dynamic pushes the movie ahead. The 2 are polar opposites, with Hinata defining himself by his ardour and love for volleyball, whereas Kenma is comparatively detached to the game, however no much less proficient. Regardless of their totally different personalities, the 2 are fairly good pals, and their need to problem one another motivates them as a lot, if no more, than their need to win and advance within the event.
Subsequently, it’s unusual that Kenma’s grasp plan to defeat Karasuno Excessive depends on demoralizing Hinata. Whereas it’s regular in sports activities methods to develop methods to restrict one of the best opponent’s efficiency, Kenma actually anticipated Hinata to surrender psychologically. The movie additionally tried to create this expectation among the many viewers. That is ridiculous. If you understand something about it Haikyu!!, Hinata is an infinite supply of vitality and enthusiasm. Even a viewer who hasn’t learn the manga is aware of instinctively that this plan will not work, and it is unbelievable that Kenma, who is aware of Hinata properly sufficient to think about him a good friend, would suppose Hinata would give up straight away. in the midst of a sport.
Moreover, Kenma’s story additionally feels a bit uninspired in 2024. Over the course of the movie and his match towards Hinata, he realizes that he additionally loves volleyball and that the game is answerable for a number of the most necessary relationships and moments in his life. On the finish of the film, he says that volleyball is enjoyable and appears to select up on Hinata’s enthusiasm for the sport.
Having a storyline a couple of character realizing how nice volleyball is in one of many ultimate arcs in a wildly in style anime about volleyball is unusual and feels disingenuous. That is clearly a movie made for established followers of Haikyu!! and at this level they’re all utterly satisfied of how cool and enjoyable volleyball is. It is also fairly corny that Kenma’s character arc boils right down to him being detached about volleyball and realizing he loves it in a collection the place virtually each named character is enthusiastic concerning the sport.
Kenma’s character is rather more fascinating when he’s dissatisfied with volleyball. In spite of everything, he competes on the highest stage of the game obtainable to him. If he can get to that time with out making volleyball his total id, it reframes the priorities and way of life selections made by the characters who’re fanatical concerning the sport. That is the place the movie’s themes additionally begin to age poorly, as conversations about how passionate you must be a couple of sport to be good at it have change into an increasing number of frequent since final yr.
Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets is arguably one of the best basketball participant on this planet proper now, and he’s recognized for his indifference in direction of the game. He clearly says, “Basketball shouldn’t be crucial factor in my life,” and he appears to solely pursue his profession as a result of it’s the easiest method for him to earn a stage of earnings that can permit him and his household to dwell greater than comfortably . . From a younger age, athletes are repeatedly informed by coaches and the media that they need to sacrifice different components of their lives and dedicate themselves to a sport to change into good at it. Jokić is the residing antithesis of that philosophy.
So in gentle of sports activities followers and gamers around the globe having to just accept that they do not must outline themselves by their chosen passion to be able to be good at it, Kenma’s arc feels fairly flat. At the same time as a voice actor Yuki Kaji does a wonderful job of conveying Kenama’s emotional arc all through the movie, the writing of the characters is uninspired and now dated. It is uncommon that you just love a primary character extra in the beginning of a film than you do on the finale, however that is what I am doing. HAIKYU!! The dumpster battle‘s primary focus.
After all, this should not discourage you from seeing the movie should you’re a Haikyu!! fan. I am not, and even I loved the modifying, digicam selections, and some jokes. Positive, this film is not pushing the medium to better heights, however not each sports activities anime film could be The primary slam dunk. At worst, this film is precisely that Haikyu!! what followers have been ready for and a strong means for these unfamiliar to see what all of the fuss is about.
